Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-11-24
Educational Column.
JOHN B. scoTT, Editor.

Educational Column.
JOHN B. SCorT, Editor.
| Next week we will conclude our sr-
,icle on Memory" Two-thirds of our
column will be filled this week by the
composition Of Prof. A. p. Vance, prin-
cipal of the public school at Ironton.
and teacher Of varied and successful
/ experience.
SUGGESTIONS FOR YOUNG TEACHERS
| concluded.
If you do not advance your pupils
satisfactorily, investigate the cause, for
it lies somewhere. Perhaps you do not
t.ach enough. You have heard It said
no doubt, that it will do . pupil NO
| more good for another to solve q prob.
lem or answer question for him than
il would do u student to have another
at his dinner for him. From this
some may have gotten the idea that ie
will do the pupil no good for the teach-
er to assist him. AS rule there is no
doubt but that most Of the assistance
which students receive from their
schoolmates is worse than valusless.
1t is great mistake for the teacher
not to assist his pupils, but It must be
done in such way as to increase their
thinking, not diminish it. The prin.
ciple which should govern the teacher
in all the assistance he renders bis
scholars is "never tell pupil thing
which you can manage to get him to
discover tor himseifn
The teacher will fail as an instructor
unless he teaches much. Having re Oh
tations is poor business. Teach but do
not violate the principle just mentio n
ed.
Don't get below or above your pupils
In your efforts to teach them. But few
| suppose violste the first caution and
the number not violating the latter IL
still smaller. Hold the intellectual
food-the thoughts you wish to teach
so that your pupils will have to reach
for it, to make mental efforts to obtain
the idea. In this way you will follow
the true principle and will have the
pleasure Of seeing your pupils grow In.
tellectuslly. IF you wish to be success
full avail yourself of every means Of
success. Attend the teachers institute.
Here you will get the benefit Of years'
experience of successful teachers. Get
some good works on teaching and study
them. Subscribe tor . good education
al journal.
METHODS IN WRITTEN WORK.
It is good plan to haye the pupils
OF each class and In each grade to pre-
pare certain amount Of written work
each day. or at least each week. to be
preserved for the inspection Of the pub
lie. All work which IL prepared Ut the
study seats with the aid Of the text and
reference books to be designated s0rtt-
ten study. This writing out Of the
points Of lesson a. they are determin-
ed by the pupil is the best means Of
thorough mastery Of the les
son. The teacher will reserve these
papers for his own examination and
When marked they should
be returned to the pupils, and they re-
quired to report orally the corrections
made at some future recitation. When
these papers have served their purpose
for recitation they should be collected
by the teacher and carefully preserved.
Now let the pupils be informed that
written recitation will be had Of the
next lesson. This will enable them to
come prepared with psper properly
headed for the exercises. Instead OF
The scattering questions and answers
Of the oral recitation, each pupil is now
required to answer In writing the same
questions. These papers are to be coll
Iected and examined by the teacher,
and each pupils standing determined
by one standard. So. not only are the
pupils subjected to a fair test, but the
habit of expressing their ideas
In writing is formed. The ease and
facility with which lessons will be thus
and the high degree Of neat
ness and business style which can b
VIII ooi AoO tOtu POpitD 0uu
and prove most valua BILE re.
sIit of the practice. Moreover, these
papers would serve to give parents
and reliable Information as
to the real progress of their children.
IF which they are ton often ignorant.
Popularity 10 often gained by hurEying
through subjects aud books at the ex-
pense of thoroughness. This would De-
il parents could be informed
how well as well as how fast their chill
iren advanced in their studies.
Winter, as q general thing, is re-
yarded as dreary season of the year,
which is to be endured, not enjoyed,
while the mind lives in anticipation Of
! coming springtime. If our lives were
merely animal existences this view Of
winter would be reasonable, but il We
study history and g. ograpby we shall
lind that the most powerful ard happy
people live on the Zane y here winter
bears away several months Of the year.
Winter is the season of intellectual
lectures, readings.
and hard study. Wipter develops 90
,ial qualities, people must furnish enter
tainment for one another, hence they
become better acquainted. Winter ID
Lhe season in which We accumulate
mental force for use In the summer
line of greater activity. The public
,chool is the peoples college and the
winter term should find moro Of our
ar0a girls and boys occupying desks
n the schools and preparing them